One Day It'll All Make Sense

Honest, intimate and authentically Chicago is what comes to mind when turning the pages of the new memoir One Day It'll All Make Sense, written by hip-hop artist and actor Common, with Adam Bradley.
In this candid memoir, which is written as a collection of letters and intertwined with thoughts from the artist's mother, Common gives readers an intimate look into the years he spent developing into not only the artist, but the man we know as Common.
Growing up on the south side of Chicago as Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (called Rashid by friends) Common details his mischief as a young teen dealing with the commonality of gang activity and drug trafficking. The son of an elementary school teacher and a local basketball star, Common knew that his life was destined to be anything but "common"--all pun intended.
Laced with references to Chicago hot spots familiar to any teen growing up on Chicago's south side during the 90's, Common's Chicago roots feel more authentic and intimate than those shared by other celebrities who claim the windy city as home. Trips to the west side to meet girls and hopping on the train at 87th and the Dan Ryan to make the trip downtown takes you back to the days of WKKC and original, authentic hip-hop music--A time when lyrical content and the art form of the music took precedence over commercial sales and media sensation.
For true hip-hop heads, the book details the background stories behind some of Common's hottest tracks such as Can I borrow a Dollar and I Used to Love Her, of the early days, and Retrospect for Life and Universal Mind Control of more recent years.
Common not only takes us through his journey as pratically becoming the brand for "conscious" hip-hop (hip-hop with intellectual and thought provoking lyrics) but he shows us a deeper side of himself as he journeys to manhood and spiritual wholeness, his quest to make his mother proud and to show her that he was actually listening to her wisdom over the years--his efforts at having a very present and meaningful relationship with his teenage daughter, forgiving and loving his own father for what he has and has not been in his life, and his journey to love.
Individual chapters of the book are carved out to give intimate details of celebrity love interests including his deep-rooted love for neosoul singer Eryka Badu and the simple ways he shows his love for professional tennis player Serena Williams.
The memoir also does not escape readers without sharing thoughts on Common's controversial White House visit. He speaks candidly about his feelings on the controversy and what it has meant to him to see Barack Obama as president.
Common is authentic in his passion for hip-hop, his love for Chicago, his pursuit of wholeness and the journey to achieving everything God has destined for him. The spirit of art, love, compassion, laughter, and personal growth are felt at every page, keeping you curled up with this book for hours on end.
One Day It'll All Make Sense was a refreshing reminder of what hip-hop was and can be--intelligent, soulful, artistic, spiritual, powerful, and enlightening. Readers will find that Common embodies this and more. I am eager to hear more from this profound artist, in film, print, and most definitely on the mic.